Phil Swann
@swannphil.bsky.social
Studying for a PhD at INLOGOV on politicians and central local government relations. Previously worked as a consultant and at the LGA
Reposted by Phil Swann
Reform has lost over 5% of councillors it had elected six months ago
A @matildamartin.bsky.social deep dive into the councils won by Farage's party in May found what a local government expert called "unusual" levels of churn
Exclusions, suspensions and resignations have taken place nationwide
A @matildamartin.bsky.social deep dive into the councils won by Farage's party in May found what a local government expert called "unusual" levels of churn
Exclusions, suspensions and resignations have taken place nationwide
Reform Is Losing Councillors Elected In May At An 'Unusual' Rate
Reform UK has lost more than 5 per cent of the councillors it had elected six months ago, an analysis by PoliticsHome has found.
www.politicshome.com
October 31, 2025 at 10:06 PM
Reform has lost over 5% of councillors it had elected six months ago
A @matildamartin.bsky.social deep dive into the councils won by Farage's party in May found what a local government expert called "unusual" levels of churn
Exclusions, suspensions and resignations have taken place nationwide
A @matildamartin.bsky.social deep dive into the councils won by Farage's party in May found what a local government expert called "unusual" levels of churn
Exclusions, suspensions and resignations have taken place nationwide
In an earlier era the minister responsible would have resigned. A return to that principle may force ministers to fix our broken systems.
October 24, 2025 at 6:33 PM
In an earlier era the minister responsible would have resigned. A return to that principle may force ministers to fix our broken systems.
Sad to see that Rob Lane has died. I can remember working with him when I led on transport stuff at the AMA in the 1980s.
Rob Lane obituary www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Rob Lane obituary www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Rob Lane obituary
Other lives: GLC director of highways and transport who hoped to curb car use and promote public services
www.theguardian.com
October 24, 2025 at 9:54 AM
Sad to see that Rob Lane has died. I can remember working with him when I led on transport stuff at the AMA in the 1980s.
Rob Lane obituary www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Rob Lane obituary www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Phil Swann
This is a grim read. I stick to my view that the wilful blindness of the government to the financial crisis in local government will cost them their majority at the next election. Why not roll the dice for change when the local public realm is falling apart? www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
English councils to remain poorer than in 2010 despite funding rise, says report
Exclusive: Impact of austerity cannot be undone by end of parliament despite above-inflation funding, analysis finds
www.theguardian.com
October 15, 2025 at 8:22 PM
This is a grim read. I stick to my view that the wilful blindness of the government to the financial crisis in local government will cost them their majority at the next election. Why not roll the dice for change when the local public realm is falling apart? www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
A piece of myth-busting essential reading….
on.ft.com/48sdQoR No need for a moral panic about the welfare system
on.ft.com/48sdQoR No need for a moral panic about the welfare system
No need for a moral panic about the welfare system
It’s far from perfect, but the UK’s spending is broadly controlled and employment is high
on.ft.com
October 15, 2025 at 12:02 PM
A piece of myth-busting essential reading….
on.ft.com/48sdQoR No need for a moral panic about the welfare system
on.ft.com/48sdQoR No need for a moral panic about the welfare system
Reposted by Phil Swann
Jean Payton Reid, architect and town planner (1917-97). Liberton Kirkyard, Edinburgh. Thought to have been Scotland's first female town planner. Family monument - pink granite obelisk.
#31DaysOfGraves day 12 notable women. #herstory
thepastandotherplaces.wordpress.com/2023/01/14/a...
#31DaysOfGraves day 12 notable women. #herstory
thepastandotherplaces.wordpress.com/2023/01/14/a...
October 12, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Jean Payton Reid, architect and town planner (1917-97). Liberton Kirkyard, Edinburgh. Thought to have been Scotland's first female town planner. Family monument - pink granite obelisk.
#31DaysOfGraves day 12 notable women. #herstory
thepastandotherplaces.wordpress.com/2023/01/14/a...
#31DaysOfGraves day 12 notable women. #herstory
thepastandotherplaces.wordpress.com/2023/01/14/a...
Love this street name in Montréal…made even nicer by the fact it crosses a street named after JFK.
September 27, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Love this street name in Montréal…made even nicer by the fact it crosses a street named after JFK.
Some wise words from Andrew Marr in this week’s New Statesman
magazine.newstatesman.com/2025/09/24/t...
magazine.newstatesman.com/2025/09/24/t...
The supreme folly of a Labour civil war
A leadership battle could hand No 10 to Nigel Farage
magazine.newstatesman.com
September 24, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Some wise words from Andrew Marr in this week’s New Statesman
magazine.newstatesman.com/2025/09/24/t...
magazine.newstatesman.com/2025/09/24/t...
Reposted by Phil Swann
Born #OTD 1665, John Hervey, 1st earl of Bristol. MP for Bury St. Edmunds for nine years, he was described as "preferring the environment of home or the race course" to Westminster in #HistParl's Commons 1690-1715 volumes. Read his full biography here: ow.ly/LwTI50T35kK
August 27, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Born #OTD 1665, John Hervey, 1st earl of Bristol. MP for Bury St. Edmunds for nine years, he was described as "preferring the environment of home or the race course" to Westminster in #HistParl's Commons 1690-1715 volumes. Read his full biography here: ow.ly/LwTI50T35kK
And the future of local government hinges on fundamentally reforming its financial systems!
Writing for @hsj.co.uk our Senior Economic Adviser, Anita Charlesworth says that the 10-Year Health Plan sets out a compelling vision, but its success will depend on overhauling financial systems to truly transform care.
Read more ⬇️
https://bit.ly/4kvm029
Read more ⬇️
https://bit.ly/4kvm029
July 13, 2025 at 8:06 AM
And the future of local government hinges on fundamentally reforming its financial systems!
Absolutely outrageous!
Car culture is insanity. Dad is 82, has stopped driving and sold the car. Last bit of admin was to cancel the AA. They tied to convince him he should continue driving. 🙃
July 11, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Absolutely outrageous!
Reposted by Phil Swann
Car culture is insanity. Dad is 82, has stopped driving and sold the car. Last bit of admin was to cancel the AA. They tied to convince him he should continue driving. 🙃
July 11, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Car culture is insanity. Dad is 82, has stopped driving and sold the car. Last bit of admin was to cancel the AA. They tied to convince him he should continue driving. 🙃
Reposted by Phil Swann
Reform suspended one of the Kent County Councillors who was elected for the party in May, after 3 charges, including threatening to kill his wife + coercive behaviour. He denies the charges, and is now an independent councillor while the case + trial proceeds
www.kentonline.co.uk/thanet/news/...
www.kentonline.co.uk/thanet/news/...
Suspended Reform councillor appears in court over ‘threats to kill wife’
A councillor suspended by Reform UK has appeared in court accused of making threats to kill his wife.
www.kentonline.co.uk
July 6, 2025 at 11:14 AM
Reform suspended one of the Kent County Councillors who was elected for the party in May, after 3 charges, including threatening to kill his wife + coercive behaviour. He denies the charges, and is now an independent councillor while the case + trial proceeds
www.kentonline.co.uk/thanet/news/...
www.kentonline.co.uk/thanet/news/...
Reposted by Phil Swann
“It is estimated that there are around 7 million to 8 million people not correctly registered or missing from the registers entirely. This is not many less than the 9.7 million people whose votes gave the government a landslide majority.”
Low turnout and an unfair voting system: UK elections ranked in the bottom half of countries in Europe
British voters are moving away from the two-party system, but their electoral system hasn’t kept up.
theconversation.com
July 4, 2025 at 6:36 AM
“It is estimated that there are around 7 million to 8 million people not correctly registered or missing from the registers entirely. This is not many less than the 9.7 million people whose votes gave the government a landslide majority.”
Reposted by Phil Swann
@swannphil.bsky.social examines what happened to Missions in the spending review?
inlogov.com/2025/06/26/t...
inlogov.com/2025/06/26/t...
The Treasury’s Long Shadow: Why Local Government Needs Its Own Barber
Philip Swann The extent to which the Blair government’s delivery unit became the focus of tension between No 10 and the Treasury is a key theme in Michelle Clement’s fascinating history[1] of the u…
inlogov.com
June 26, 2025 at 9:13 AM
@swannphil.bsky.social examines what happened to Missions in the spending review?
inlogov.com/2025/06/26/t...
inlogov.com/2025/06/26/t...
Reposted by Phil Swann
No10 has issued odd internal guidance banning officials speaking at public events
It means more closed govt & worse policy decisions-the opposite of what ministers say they want
From @drhannahwhite.bsky.social & me @instituteforgovernment.org.uk
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/gove...
It means more closed govt & worse policy decisions-the opposite of what ministers say they want
From @drhannahwhite.bsky.social & me @instituteforgovernment.org.uk
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/gove...
The government should not ban public servants from speaking in public | Institute for Government
New guidance will damage the quality of government and public discourse.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
June 26, 2025 at 6:15 AM
No10 has issued odd internal guidance banning officials speaking at public events
It means more closed govt & worse policy decisions-the opposite of what ministers say they want
From @drhannahwhite.bsky.social & me @instituteforgovernment.org.uk
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/gove...
It means more closed govt & worse policy decisions-the opposite of what ministers say they want
From @drhannahwhite.bsky.social & me @instituteforgovernment.org.uk
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/gove...
What lessons are there from Blair’s delivery unit for the current government’s missions?
Some thoughts in my INLOGOV blog
inlogov.com
Some thoughts in my INLOGOV blog
inlogov.com
INLOGOV Blog
The Institute of Local Government Studies, University of Birmingham
inlogov.com
June 26, 2025 at 8:15 AM
What lessons are there from Blair’s delivery unit for the current government’s missions?
Some thoughts in my INLOGOV blog
inlogov.com
Some thoughts in my INLOGOV blog
inlogov.com
Reposted by Phil Swann
Great write up of @stuarthoddinott.bsky.social’s new report which shows local authorities have been forced to ration access to publicly funded care. This has created a damaging geographical and demographic ‘care gap’
Full report here: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...
Full report here: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...
June 25, 2025 at 6:42 AM
Great write up of @stuarthoddinott.bsky.social’s new report which shows local authorities have been forced to ration access to publicly funded care. This has created a damaging geographical and demographic ‘care gap’
Full report here: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...
Full report here: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...
Reposted by Phil Swann
@alexgathomas.bsky.social and I take a look into Georgia Gould's announcements last week and ask the question: what does this mean for the government's missions?
Some sign of life in the govt’s missions based on Georgia Gould’s announcements last week
But @hcdunlop.bsky.social and I argue here that the mission agenda will be swamped unless the centre of government signs up (esp true post spending review)
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/cabi...
But @hcdunlop.bsky.social and I argue here that the mission agenda will be swamped unless the centre of government signs up (esp true post spending review)
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/cabi...
New Cabinet Office plans show some sign of life in the government’s missions | Institute for Government
Will themed campuses solve local problems or set national policy?
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
June 24, 2025 at 12:37 PM
@alexgathomas.bsky.social and I take a look into Georgia Gould's announcements last week and ask the question: what does this mean for the government's missions?
A worrying populist dimension to the already challenging central-local government relations. Well worth reading From LA to Paris, the populist right hates cities – and it’s fuelled by a sense of bitter defeat | Andy Beckett www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
From LA to Paris, the populist right hates cities – and it’s fuelled by a sense of bitter defeat | Andy Beckett
LA was once a conservative stronghold; now the military is occupying it. Liberal cities have become targets for politicians looking to stir up their voters elsewhere, says Guardian columnist Andy Beck...
www.theguardian.com
June 20, 2025 at 8:56 AM
A worrying populist dimension to the already challenging central-local government relations. Well worth reading From LA to Paris, the populist right hates cities – and it’s fuelled by a sense of bitter defeat | Andy Beckett www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Yes, yes, yes!
on.ft.com/4486HpF Healthcare policy is afflicted by short-sightedness
on.ft.com/4486HpF Healthcare policy is afflicted by short-sightedness
Healthcare policy is afflicted by short-sightedness
With the NHS in triage mode, business and society need to shift to prevention of ill health
on.ft.com
June 20, 2025 at 8:52 AM
Yes, yes, yes!
on.ft.com/4486HpF Healthcare policy is afflicted by short-sightedness
on.ft.com/4486HpF Healthcare policy is afflicted by short-sightedness
Reposted by Phil Swann
…. it would be interesting to know if ministers did actually look at the lessons from the experience of the GOs, and why think this things will be different this time around www.local-government.org.uk/library/2020...
www.local-government.org.uk
June 20, 2025 at 8:08 AM
…. it would be interesting to know if ministers did actually look at the lessons from the experience of the GOs, and why think this things will be different this time around www.local-government.org.uk/library/2020...
Reposted by Phil Swann
New thing klaxon! How do you know if your organisation is mission-driven? Today we’re releasing a mission maturity framework I’ve co-authored with @danhonig.bsky.social and Vinuri Dissanaya at Georgetown Better Government Lab in collaboration with Nesta. Link: www.nesta.org.uk/report/on-mi.... 1/n
www.nesta.org.uk
June 20, 2025 at 8:02 AM
New thing klaxon! How do you know if your organisation is mission-driven? Today we’re releasing a mission maturity framework I’ve co-authored with @danhonig.bsky.social and Vinuri Dissanaya at Georgetown Better Government Lab in collaboration with Nesta. Link: www.nesta.org.uk/report/on-mi.... 1/n